“BEHIND THE SCENES”

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1934, Page 7

“BEHIND THE SCENES”

VOICES Of THOSE WHO WORK. politics and OTHER things. If the “stbfy behind the scenes” in relation to the many public undertakings could only be written how interested the public would be, giyfi the Wanganui Chrdnicle. If secretaries, town and local body clerks, Parliamentary and other organisers, coUld only be prevailed to tell their life stories and be frank and free in an expression of thought, what a wonderful nfews column they would fill.

There waB “just a Whisper” of a voice from behind the Scenes When Mr. Arthur Way, of Marton, who 1188 jdsi completed 21 years’ service &s an organiser ift the Reform and Coalition interests, replied to a toast to his honour on Tuesday night. He spoke of his own feelings with regard to the' Various candidates Who had been chosen to contest elections. His observations were based after tile first meeting night in which the respective candidates appeared. One he referred to as “a bit of a dud,” another as “d—--bad” and still another as “very poor.” “I told him the election was lost, Unless he thumped the table a bit more,” said Mr. Way. (Laughter). “At the next meeting he nearly broke a tabid up and we won.” (Laughter and appladse). Mr. Way gave a few more intimate details in connection with various campaigns, and what he said all went to prove how valuable and indispensable is the “man behind the scenes*—the organiser dr the Secretary, whose voice is rarely heaid in public, but whose work is taken up and “put over” by somebody else, whose Organisation functions so that men may make speeches and do things for the sake cf a cause. ..... If a count was. made of the political office bearers in . any . , country, of the various chairmen of local bodies and leaders in publid life, most of them, it would be found, owned their success dr ability to the secretary, clerk, or other humble adviser Updn Whbse executive powers so much depended. But while all that may be true there is another important aspect of the filter, and that was vouched oh by. Mr. H. C. Jenkins at the Marten gathering On Tuesday, in a reply to the toast of “The Press.” He said that a great deal had been said about organisation and he appreciated hoW valuable it was. “To have unity a party Must have principles,” he said (hear, hear). “Organisation will accomplish a' great deal, but the principles and policy of a party are its motive power.’* Some day secretaries, politically and Otherwise, will be prevailed upon t& tell What they know and recount the “humble” party they have played in moulding the policies of Governments and the \iples of men. In the meantime they Jke engineers aboard big ships, deCb down below, Oiling machinery and..- keeping watch so that those ships may keep travelling. . Mr. Arthur Way has belonged to that band of workers. He was educated at New Plymouth and left school at the iage of 14 to join the staff or the Taranaki Herald. Later he Was oh the staff of the Tarahaki Daily News and 42 yCars ago came to Marton to join the Rahgitike! Advocate. He Occupied a post with that firm for ,30 years, Ohd .finally g&Ve it up on account Of ill-health. Later he set up as an Organising and SfhOral secretary ift Marton, but still fOtamßd his active connection with newspaper Work by becoming the Marton representative of thfe Wanganui Chronicle, a post he is still Occupying. Prominentamong his list Of secretaryships are those of the Marton Jockey Club, Marton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union and Rangitikei Hunt Club. He has always been 0 keen sport and has a Dominionwide reputation as an organiser. . It is Mr, Way’S intention to continue his secretarial business, but he hafe decided to relinquish his active connection with Parliamentary election campaigns. It was on that account that he was met on Tuesday night and made a presentation O fa purse of sovereigns.